Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;LIVELY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Lively’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with some yellow in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Lively’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lively’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red- brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Lively’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Lively’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Hawaiian Pearl’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘amabilis’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Lively’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Lively’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with some yellow in the labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissueculture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Lively’, the female parent‘Hawaiian Pearl’ has white colored flowers and they are about 12 cm insize, the male parent ‘amabilis’ has white colored flowers and they areabout 7 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Lively’ are white and areabout 9 cm in size.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Lively’ can be meaningfullycompared is ‘Late Frost’. The flowers of ‘Late Frost’ are larger thanthe flowers of ‘Lively’. Also ‘Late Frost’ has more yellow in thelabellum than ‘Lively’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Lively’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Lively’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Lively’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of‘Lively’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Lively’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Lively’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Lively’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Lively’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘Lively’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Lively’ are a minimum of5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with levelof 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of‘Lively’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Lively’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Hawaiian Pearl’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘amabilis’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6            mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 195A and RHS 198C);            freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in            tissue culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest            flower): about 65 to 70 cm Spread: about 40 to 65 cm.        -   Growth habit.—standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 10 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—none.        -   Mature leaf length.—about 15 to 21 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—about 5 to 10 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A), edges are            green (RHS 146A) Under side: green (RHS 146A).        -   Leaf base.—acute.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS N137A) under side: green (RHS 138B).-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 10.        -   Length.—about 50 to 70 cm.        -   Diameter.—about 4 to 5 mm.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—green (RHS 143A).        -   Internode.—Length: about 35 to 40 mm.-   Inflorescence description:-   Appearance: upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with    bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning    with the lowermost flower.-   Buds:    -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 15 to 30 mm.        -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 15 to 22 mm.        -   Shape.—egg-shaped/oval.        -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 145A and RHS 150C).-   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not    undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of    18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30    weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to    20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be    expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a    leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.-   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness    of cut flowers: has not been observed-   Fragrance: no fragrance-   Flower:    -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days            after petal and sepal separation.        -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.        -   Shape.—typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2.        -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 75 to 95 mm Diameter:            about 80 to 100 mm Depth of tube: about 17 mm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—three petals and three sepals that            are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals            are more pronounced than sepals.        -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral            petals and labellum.        -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly            cupped Apex: oval/round Margin: entire and weakly undulate            Base: broadly ovate Length: about 60 mm Width: about 45 mm            Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:            smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper and under            side: white (RHS NN155C) Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed            with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the            lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of            labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends            forward and is terminated by 2 long filiform appendages at            the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape            while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it            Margin: entire and weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about            20 mm Width (not flattened): about 22 mm Texture: Upper and            under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):            Midlobe, upper side: white (RHS NN155C). At the base in the            center and in the corners yellow (RHS 6C). From base upper            edge is red/purple (RHS 71 A). Also a little RHS 71A in the            center at the base. Under side: white (RHS NN155C). At the            base, the corners are yellow (RHS 6C). Upper edge at the            base is red/purple (RHS 71A). Lateral lobes, upper side:            white (RHS NN155C). From base red/purple stripes (RHS 71A).            Part of the lower edge is yellow (RHS 6C). Under side: white            (RHS NN155C) with yellow on a part of the lower edge (RHS            6C). Cirrhi: long and curly (about 25 mm) color: white (RHS            NN155C) which runs into yellow (RHS 6D) Pestle            (Callosities): Length: about 5 mm Width (not flattened):            about 10 mm Color: main color is white (RHS NN155C) with            red/purple spots and stripes (RHS 71A). The front and top            edges are yellow (RHS 3A).-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals.        -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire            and weakly undulate Length: about 43 mm Width: about 32 mm            Apex: oval and little pointy Texture: Upper and under            surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper            side, dorsal and lateral: main color is white (RHS NN155C).            Some have a light yellow/green haze (RHS 151C). Lateral            sepals have a red/purple mark close to the base (RHS 71C).            Under side, dorsal and lateral: main color is white (RHs            NN155C) with a yellow/green haze (RHs 151C).-   Pedicel:-   Length: about 35 mm-   Diameter: about 3 mm-   Texture: glabrous and smooth-   Color: green/white (RHS 157C) with a red/purple haze (RHS 71A).    Closer to the raceme it turns green/yellow (RHS 144A)-   Reproductive organs:-   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,    short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther    with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an    anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the    pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The    plant has not produced seed.-   Column:    -   -   Length.—about 8 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.        -   Color.—white (RHS NN155C).-   Pollinia:    -   -   Quantity.—two.        -   Diameter.—about 1 mm.        -   Color.—yellow/orange (RHS 22A).-   Ovary:    -   -   Length.—about 2 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.        -   Color.—white (RHS NN155C).-   Disease/pest resistance/ susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Lively’, as illustrated and described herein.